Soaring through the streets of Hattiesburg with caps in hand, graduating students at the University of Southern Mississippi are racing to complete final to-dos before commencement day.
With more than 1,300 seniors leaving the Southern Miss nest this fall, they are juggling exams, graduation applications and preparations for life after college. Ensuring nothing is overlooked is key to a smooth transition. While only 5-10% face delays during graduation, most work diligently to ensure they’re among the 95% ready to cross the stage.
“It’s often too late,” is a sentence no student wants to hear after making big preparations, yet it’s a reality to some, said School of Media and Communication Professor Dr. Jason Beverly.
“A common mistake I often see is students waiting until the end of the semester to ask for help,” he said. “Unfortunately, by that time, it’s often too late.”
Graduating students are encouraged to check with the registrar’s office to ensure they’ve completed all academic requirements, pay any outstanding fees and verify participation in the commencement ceremony. During this time, seniors can utilize on-campus resources including the Financial Aid Office, Career Services and Writing Center to prepare for end-of-semester demands.
While the university provides a plethora of resources to assist seniors, some students have suggestions for how the process could be improved.
“I think they should give seniors caps and gowns for free instead of paying for them and waive senior fees,” Naomi Anderson, a graduating kinesiotherapy student, advised. “It would be a small gesture that makes a big difference as we prepare for graduation.”
